I've spent the last couple of years building my a dalek, but such is life...
I've spent the last couple of years building my a dalek, but such is life...
Member since:08.06.2001
Reviews:79
Members who trust:69
A new Doctor, companion, enemy, the UNIT team and in colour, a new start for Doctor Who or at least it was in 1970.
Spearhead From Space was Jon Pertwee’s first story as the Doctor, having been regenerated by the Timelords and exiled on earth in the previous adventure, Spearhead picks up the thread with the Doctor arriving somewhat confused on earth in England and in Oxlye Woods, and promptly collapses and gets taken to hospital, where he spends the first episode. Meanwhile The Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) who the Doctor has met before, is interviewing Liz Shaw (Caroline John) to become UNIT(United Nations Intelligence Force)’s scientific advisor, elsewhere meteorites have landed, and a local plastics factory have started producing some very odd lines...... and it all happens in the first episode. The meteorites turn out to be a lifeform called the Nestine conscious, and have an affinity with plastic, all around the country shop dummies(Auton's controlled by the Nestines) supplied by a certain plastics factory start to come alive.....
The first Doctor Who story to be made in colour and also to be recorded entirely on film (as opposed to videotape) due to industrial action, and with it being digitally remastered, the prints cleaned up and restored soundtrack, make it a pleasure to watch, the fact that it is on film makes a whole lot of difference, as you can tell.
The involvement of the Brigadier and UNIT was to give a backbone to the earth based stories, that the production team wanted, and would continue for the next few years, there are some very good elements to this story, the Brigadier not recognising the Doctor because of his regeneration, the scariness of such a mundane thing as a shop dummy coming alive, the idea of a conscious rather than a monster, its all very entertaining stuff.
The DVD can cost anywhere around £16.99 (I got it as two for £25), four episodes at 97 minutes long and in colour, the extra’s on the DVD?,
UNIT Recruitment Film Originally made in 1993, its a look at UNIT, clips from all eras of Doctor Who, showing what they are and what they’ve done,
Trailers These were shown on TV when the story was repeated in 1999,
Photo Gallery Exactly what it is, photos taken at the time of recording the story,
Commentary This was done by Nicholas Courtney and Caroline John,
On Screen Production Notes These tell you about the locations, where they are etc., details about the programme, background info and such.
Its quite an enjoyable adventure, the Doctor doesn’t do much for a while, but when there introducing a new concept for the show in addition to the Brigadier and UNIT as a full-fledged part of the programme, and a new Doctor and companion as well as trying to tell a story in four episodes, you can easily forgive them.
One thing you might like to know is that the Autons were so popular that they came back in another story a year later and stared in three fan made videos a couple of years ago, simply called AUTON. So if you like this then there’s more.
I like it, and would defiantly recommend it .
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Good enthusiastic review. I have this on VHS, but may buy it on DVD when if I see a cheap copy.
Spearhead was important in ensuring that Doctor Who continued after the sixties. Ratings had fallen towards the end of the Troughton era and the BBC had considerd calling it a day.
Spearhead was different as the Doctor was more of an action hero, was Earthbound with a large regular team and it was in colour - although I suspect that only a handful of UK viewers would actually have colour and be able to enjoy it.
tange 13.08.2001 11:50
Preaching to the converted I'm afraid..I love this DVD. Great opinion though. Ver informative and well written.
"Spearhead from Space" launchedDoctor Whointo the 1970s with not only a new Doctor, Jon ... more
Pertwee, but a new assistant, the scientist Liz Shaw (Caroline John) and a regular place in the show for UNIT and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney). ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 businessdays...
"Spearhead from Space" launchedDoctor Whointo the 1970s with not only a new Doctor, Jon ... more
Pertwee, but a new assistant, the scientist Liz Shaw (Caroline John) and a regular place in the show for UNIT and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney). ...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Forbidden to continue his travels through time and space by his fellow Time Lords the ... more
newly regenerated Doctor begins his exile on Earth and finds himself hurled into one of his most exciting and terrifying adventures. But the Doctor is not the only...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Exiled to Earth in the late 20th century by his own people - the Time Lords - the newly ... more
regenerated Doctor arrives in Oxley Woods alongside a shower of mysterious meteorites. Investigating these unusual occurrences is the newly-formed United Nations In...
![Doctor Who - Spearhead From Space [DVD] [1970]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78521000.jpg "Doctor Who - Spearhead From Space [DVD] [1970]")
Jul 4th, 2001
(Aug 3rd, 2001)
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